.JPG)
Starting Sarah out on the Classics early:
Baby Lit™ Classics, including:
.JPG)
Funny faces with Mom and Cannon
photos via Kelli's iTouch/iPhone
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Yes, It's a Commercial, but it will still make you cry
Commercials don't have to be crass.
They don't have to be loud or flashy,
or full of inappropriateness.
Sometimes, it takes an international commercial to remind you.
Have tissues.
If you can't see it above, click on this link, or cut and paste this:
http://youtu.be/cZGghmwUcbQ
To be honest, there was a bit there, when I thought it was going to be a Mormon tv spot like those of days of yore.
Make Good Art.
~Neil Gaiman
Friday, September 5, 2014
Nathan is Awesome!
Grumpa and Grandmary got new iPhones this summer, and have been sending along various random photos from their trips around the West. Some of these attachments have come through in various formats ... but all of them are cute.
Here's some random ones of Nathan up in Idaho. Can't do anything about the size - that's how they came to me.
Here's some random ones of Nathan up in Idaho. Can't do anything about the size - that's how they came to me.
At the Library with the whole gang
Grumpa calls this: Next step to being a pirate
(even if it is a Princess wig)
Falling asleep on Grumpa
.JPG)
Apparently Nathan did this a lot, but this was the only one "appropriate to share."
Grumpa *is* snuggly.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Family Trees: So Many (Broken) Branches
This will be a series of family genealogy posts all circulating around an obituary... so, I'm warning you.
You can skip ahead if not interesting to you. But as the family library/archivist/documentarian, I'm going to post these, so they are SOMEWHERE for future generations.
You know how people always make a list of things they would do if they won the lottery?
Yes, to all of the above, but I would LOVE to have the resources to employ a team from "Who Do You Think You Are?" to track down the information on a particular line of my family tree. That of my Grandpa Jack.
Maternal Grandma Ollie did such a good job back-tracing her family lines, back in the day before the Internet. My paternal lines are starting to come together - thanks to unique family surnames.
But my mother's father's side of the family?
Well, therein lies the mystery - and really only three to four generations back.
Bear with me ...
This is the headstone for my great-grandmother Mary Ann, Jack's mother.
Here's where things get interesting.
Grandpa Jack had a brother, Ira -- pronounced in Southern as "Ory." You try taking an oral history thinking you hear Ory and it's written IRA! Not at all confusing. And the nicknames --- a curse for future genealogists.
Grandpa Jack and Great-Uncle Ira had the same mother, Mary Ann, but different fathers. Half-siblings, yes, AND different surnames. Ira's family used Mary Ann's surname of Bass. So very "interesting......." Something is up there, no?!
Anyway ...
Uncle Ira had children, Grandmary's cousins.
This is Grandmary on the left with her cousin Ida on the right, c. the North Carolina road-trip of 2010.
That genetic legacy is on two sides of a branch of the family tree, and traces down to me, to my brother J, and to his daughter Amber. We can trace it back to great-grandmother Mary Ann. We'd like to trace it further back, but the family history is murky. So many questions, like: Why weren't Ira and Jack raised together? Who were the fathers? Who were Mary Ann's people? What was the story? Must have been a doozy. It's not been told. Also, where is the rumor-family connection to a possible Southern Native American tribe? SOME people in the family can tan like you can't believe. Others of us -- so, so, so, pale to the point of ghost-like.
Sadly, the connections to the past are being lost to time.
We learned this summer that another North Carolina relative, Grandmary's cousin and Cousin Ida's sister, Pauline - aka Ms. Polly - also died in July.
I had only visited Ms. Polly a few times, but Grandma Ollie made a point to keep in contact with Grandpa Jack's side of the family once he passed, and Grandmary continued/continues to do so. I am glad I got to visit back in 2010 and see Ms. Polly for the last time. She was frail even then, and you could see the decline, but she still made an effort for our quick visit.
I had to shoot these surreptitiously. You need to be discreet when on a proper Southern "rock and talk" with the older generation of relatives.
I much prefer this picture from her obit. That's really how I remember her from when I was much younger.
Pauline “Ms. Polly” Bass Gardner, 94, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Wayne Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family.
Pauline was born in Johnston County on January 19, 1920, to the late Ira and Flossie Mitchell Bass. She was married to the late Grover Gardner. Pauline was a member of Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church. Although Pauline leaves a vacant place in our hearts, we know she truly earned her special place in heaven. Pauline will always be remembered as a loyal woman of faith, love and respect for everyone who touched her life.
Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2014 in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home with the Rev. Barry Stallings and Rev. Anderson Barnes officiating. Interment will be on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Pikeville Cemetery.
Pauline is survived by her daughter Pat and husband Nick Sutton of Pikeville; sons, Jimmy Gardner and wife Joan of Pikeville, Kenneth Gardner and wife Mary of Pikeville; sisters, Helen Thorn of Goldsboro, and Ida Padgett of Goldsboro; seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hilda McManus and Maebelle White and brothers, Ira D. Bass and Eurice Bass.
The family will receive friends following the service at Seymour Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com
Pauline Bass Gardner
Pauline was born in Johnston County on Jan. 19, 1920, to the late Ira and Flossie Mitchell Bass. She was married to the late Grover Gardner. Pauline was a member of Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church.
Although Pauline leaves a vacant place in our hearts, we know she truly earned her special place in heaven. Pauline will always be remembered as a loyal woman of faith, love and respect for everyone who touched her life.
Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 20, 2014, in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home, with the Rev. Barry Stallings and Rev. Anderson Barnes officiating. Interment will be on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Pikeville Cemetery.
Pauline is survived by her daughter, Pat, and husband Nick Sutton of Pikeville; sons, Jimmy Gardner and wife, Joan, of Pikeville, Kenneth Gardner and wife, Mary, of Pikeville; sisters, Helen Thorn of Goldsboro and Ida Padgett of Goldsboro; seven grandchildren,10 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hilda McManus and Maebelle White, and brothers, Ira D. Bass and Eurice Bass.
The family will receive friends following the service at Seymour Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
The family requests memorials be made to Lancaster Bryan Sunday School Class, Pleasant Grove FWB Church,
P. O. Box 36, Pikeville, N. C. 27863
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
For the link, please go to: http://webcast.funeralrecording.com/events/viewer/6234/hash:86115587E8FF0965
So much Southern twang, but some stories and preaching bring her to life beyond the words of a printed notice.
Obituaries contain a wealth of family history information. When you can, always include them - and all versions you can find. You may think it's redundant, but sometimes, a slight variation in an obit will have a clue that another version will not.
You can skip ahead if not interesting to you. But as the family library/archivist/documentarian, I'm going to post these, so they are SOMEWHERE for future generations.
You know how people always make a list of things they would do if they won the lottery?
A new car!
A new house!
Vacations!
Cruises!
College funds!
Endowments Funds!
But more realistically, debt reduction!
Yes, to all of the above, but I would LOVE to have the resources to employ a team from "Who Do You Think You Are?" to track down the information on a particular line of my family tree. That of my Grandpa Jack.
Maternal Grandma Ollie did such a good job back-tracing her family lines, back in the day before the Internet. My paternal lines are starting to come together - thanks to unique family surnames.
But my mother's father's side of the family?
Well, therein lies the mystery - and really only three to four generations back.
Bear with me ...
This is Grandmary (on a beach!)
 |
| photo c. Grumpa, this summer, Oregon Coast |
This on the left is her father's headstone, Grandpa Jack aka Jasper, and
(right) a picture of a picture of Grandpa Jack. I don't have an actual copy of a photo, and this is a lousy one at that. This original is in Grandmary's possession. There aren't that many photos of Grandpa Jack. This is 8 years before I came along. He's holding up some of his tobacco crop; he was a farmer. The "Agrico" logo on the matte is for a fertilizer company.
This is the headstone for my great-grandmother Mary Ann, Jack's mother.
Here's where things get interesting.
Grandpa Jack had a brother, Ira -- pronounced in Southern as "Ory." You try taking an oral history thinking you hear Ory and it's written IRA! Not at all confusing. And the nicknames --- a curse for future genealogists.
Grandpa Jack and Great-Uncle Ira had the same mother, Mary Ann, but different fathers. Half-siblings, yes, AND different surnames. Ira's family used Mary Ann's surname of Bass. So very "interesting......." Something is up there, no?!
Anyway ...
Uncle Ira had children, Grandmary's cousins.
This is a picture of Uncle Ira with his wife Flossie.
 |
| taken at Cousin Ida's house in NC, 2010 |
This is Grandmary on the left with her cousin Ida on the right, c. the North Carolina road-trip of 2010.
See a similarity? (Reminds me: I need glasses - like last decade.)
That genetic legacy is on two sides of a branch of the family tree, and traces down to me, to my brother J, and to his daughter Amber. We can trace it back to great-grandmother Mary Ann. We'd like to trace it further back, but the family history is murky. So many questions, like: Why weren't Ira and Jack raised together? Who were the fathers? Who were Mary Ann's people? What was the story? Must have been a doozy. It's not been told. Also, where is the rumor-family connection to a possible Southern Native American tribe? SOME people in the family can tan like you can't believe. Others of us -- so, so, so, pale to the point of ghost-like.
Sadly, the connections to the past are being lost to time.
We learned this summer that another North Carolina relative, Grandmary's cousin and Cousin Ida's sister, Pauline - aka Ms. Polly - also died in July.
I had only visited Ms. Polly a few times, but Grandma Ollie made a point to keep in contact with Grandpa Jack's side of the family once he passed, and Grandmary continued/continues to do so. I am glad I got to visit back in 2010 and see Ms. Polly for the last time. She was frail even then, and you could see the decline, but she still made an effort for our quick visit.
I much prefer this picture from her obit. That's really how I remember her from when I was much younger.
Obits - for genealogical purposes
Pauline “Ms. Polly” Bass Gardner
July 19, 2014
July 19, 94, Pikeville (N.C.)
Pauline “Ms. Polly” Bass Gardner, 94, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Wayne Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family.
Pauline was born in Johnston County on January 19, 1920, to the late Ira and Flossie Mitchell Bass. She was married to the late Grover Gardner. Pauline was a member of Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church. Although Pauline leaves a vacant place in our hearts, we know she truly earned her special place in heaven. Pauline will always be remembered as a loyal woman of faith, love and respect for everyone who touched her life.
Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2014 in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home with the Rev. Barry Stallings and Rev. Anderson Barnes officiating. Interment will be on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Pikeville Cemetery.
Pauline is survived by her daughter Pat and husband Nick Sutton of Pikeville; sons, Jimmy Gardner and wife Joan of Pikeville, Kenneth Gardner and wife Mary of Pikeville; sisters, Helen Thorn of Goldsboro, and Ida Padgett of Goldsboro; seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hilda McManus and Maebelle White and brothers, Ira D. Bass and Eurice Bass.
The family will receive friends following the service at Seymour Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
The family request memorials be made to
Lancaster Bryan Sunday School Class, % Pleasant Grove FWB Church, P. O.
Box 36, Pikeville, N. C. 27863
Published in Obituaries on July 20, 2014 12:39 PM
Pauline Bass Gardner
Jan. 19, 1920-July 19, 2014
Pauline "Ms. Polly" Bass Gardner, 94, passed away on Saturday, July
19, 2014, at Wayne Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family.Pauline was born in Johnston County on Jan. 19, 1920, to the late Ira and Flossie Mitchell Bass. She was married to the late Grover Gardner. Pauline was a member of Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church.
Although Pauline leaves a vacant place in our hearts, we know she truly earned her special place in heaven. Pauline will always be remembered as a loyal woman of faith, love and respect for everyone who touched her life.
Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 20, 2014, in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home, with the Rev. Barry Stallings and Rev. Anderson Barnes officiating. Interment will be on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Pikeville Cemetery.
Pauline is survived by her daughter, Pat, and husband Nick Sutton of Pikeville; sons, Jimmy Gardner and wife, Joan, of Pikeville, Kenneth Gardner and wife, Mary, of Pikeville; sisters, Helen Thorn of Goldsboro and Ida Padgett of Goldsboro; seven grandchildren,10 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hilda McManus and Maebelle White, and brothers, Ira D. Bass and Eurice Bass.
The family will receive friends following the service at Seymour Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
The family requests memorials be made to Lancaster Bryan Sunday School Class, Pleasant Grove FWB Church,
P. O. Box 36, Pikeville, N. C. 27863
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
WEB-CAST VIDEO CLIPS
There was even a 36 minute recording made of the web-cast of Ms. Polly's funeral service/sermon. Now, that's a first! My Grandma Ollie would NOT know what to do about that.For the link, please go to: http://webcast.funeralrecording.com/events/viewer/6234/hash:86115587E8FF0965
So much Southern twang, but some stories and preaching bring her to life beyond the words of a printed notice.
Obituaries contain a wealth of family history information. When you can, always include them - and all versions you can find. You may think it's redundant, but sometimes, a slight variation in an obit will have a clue that another version will not.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Summer of Sarah: Random Shots
Occasionally I realize that my inbox, iMessenger, and phone are full of random photos of my family that I haven't shared.
These are all just from Sarah this year. Look at how big she's getting!
Photos courtesy of various family members, mostly her dotting parents
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Last Trips: Take Pictures, because you never know ...
I was talking to Grandmary on Sunday night, as I do --
Aside: The 'rents and I have a standing 9pm Sunday night phone call -- a custom that has dated back to the college days when there was no such thing as e-mail, blogs, FaceBook, or other things with which to keep track of far-flung family. They actually have standing Sunday phone call checks-in with all of their off-spring. Sometimes the schedule works. Sometimes it's a FaceTime or a Skype call. Sometimes the call with with the maternal one. Sometimes the paternal one. Sometimes, woe be unto you for calling during a SportsBall Evening. Sometimes the parental unit is chatty; other times, one gets the impressions that they ... rather not be talking to you at all, and you feel rushed off the phone. Sometimes you are on a speaker-phone conversation and you don't know it. (AWKWARD!) Sometimes it's a tag-team production because nature has called unto the bladder of people on either end of the call. So -- you know... The usual. It's a family thing.
and we were conversing about this, that, and the other thing.
I haven't mentioned it here (yet), but Grandmary and Grumpa Max will be leaving soon for a year-long religious service mission in Washington, D.C. The application, acceptance, and organization of this mission has been a longer more drawn-out process than they anticipated, for reasons that have only been revealed, as we say: "in the fullness of time."
Apparently HE knew things that we could only begin to realize, and it was important that Grumpa, particularly, be around this year for his extended family. Sadly, some grand old broads, my great-aunts on my father's side passed away this year. (I will blog about that soon.) It was important that Grumpa be available to travel to the funerals, which he might not have been if he were in D.C.
Given the age of my maternal great-aunts, and the fact that my parents will be on the East Coast, we have also been worried about my northern-Utah great-aunties. Mom has been doing trips to Logan, Utah a lot this year to check in with them.
But, apparently, we also should have been keeping tabs on the North Carolina relatives.
[But Nettie? How's all this relevant? I'm getting there.]
I asked Grandmary on Sunday, after listening to her rattle off the names all the family and friends that had gathered for their "farewell" ceremonies, if anyone had taken pictures. My brother Jed, wife Kelli, Drew, and the twins were there; my father's sister, my aunt Cora and uncle Kevin were there; some of my father's California cousins had come in; and lots of CT and UT friends were there ...
But no one took pictures.
When Grandmary was last in Logan, "because you just never know" ... she didn't take pictures.
[UPDATED LATE TODAY because of an email from Grandmary:
I did too!
I did too take pictures in Logan. No pictures on Sunday, but we were all too busy keeping track of Sarah and Cannon.
With four pictures of the aunties from the Logan trip. I stand corrected. Sarah and Cannon are two times the mischief and go tearing off in either direction with chortles of devilish glee.]
It wasn't until the conversation was beginning to wrap up, that Grandmary just happened to mention:
"Oh, and Lucille died."
Turns out -- Ms. Lucille (in the respectful parlance of the South) passed about a month ago, but we just found out. The North Carolina family tree is large and extended and full of many, many branches, and sometimes ... it's hard to stay in touch if you aren't in the immediate family.
With this news, the sense that more time is passing and I'm losing more connections to my grandmother(s). Though, their presences have both been very close this summer. (More on that later).
Immediately, I flashed back to the North Carolina 2010 Roadtrip with Grandmary (most memorable for the e coli I picked up on the last leg), and how I am SO GLAD THAT I TOOK PICTURES.
I have documentation of the last time I saw Ms. Lucille, who was family, and should/could have been considered another one of my honorary aunties.
Grandma Ollie and Ms. Lucille were long-time friends AND family, cousins through the Aycock line, hearty North Carolina farm wives, church companions, quilting circle ladies, and a comfort to each other through long widow-hoods. While I didn't get to spend much time with her, I am so grateful to her for all that she did for Grandma Ollie, especially during Ollie's last years - even when it was hard for Lucille to communicate (she got so deaf, the poor dear), and for her gracious Southern hospitality for the long traditionally Southern slooooooow "rock and talks."
I am particularly glad I TOOK PICTURES of the last time I ever got to visit back in 2010.
Lucille Gordon Aycock, 95, 1058 Aycock Dairy Road died, Wednesday night at Kitty Askins with her family by her side.
Funeral, Friday 11:00 AM, Simon Aycock Cemetery, 1022 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont.
Family will receive friends at the resident Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and following the committal service.
Mrs. Aycock is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A native of Wayne County and was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Charles Aycock, Sr., a son, Larry Steven Aycock, her parents, Azzie Belle Barden Aycock and Ralph Gordon Aycock, brothers, Elton Aycock, Hubert Aycock, Wilton Aycock and Elbert Aycock, and grandson, Charles William Aycock.
Surviving, four sons; R. Charles Aycock, Jr. (Mary Ann) of Pikeville, Allen Glenn Aycock, Sr. (Jan), Phillip B. Aycock (Nanette) both of Fremont and Roger S. Aycock (Josephine) of Roper. Grandchildren; Connie Johnson (Jimmy), Russell Aycock (Paula), Brad Aycock (Kristi), Melissa Dobbs (Steve), Marie Littleton (Ken), Glenn Aycock, Jr., Julie Johnston (Jay), Suzanne Aycock, Jennie Ledford (Marty), Missie Brady (Chris), Molly Oliver (Chris), Phil Aycock (Veronica), Nancy Corbett (Mark) and Ryan Aycock (Amanda). Great-grandchildren; Hannah Aycock, Heather Johnson, Paige Johnson, Ethan Aycock, Rusty Aycock, Olivia Aycock, Sarah Aycock, Mitch Hurlburt, Stephanie Hurlburt, Megan Littleton, Garrett Littleton, Nathan Littleton, Sara Aycock, Elizabeth Aycock, Hunter Ledford, Fischer Ledford, Christine Oliver, Porter Brady, Katie Brady, Bella Oliver, Jacob Oliver, Wyatt Aycock, Wade Aycock, D. J. Terrell and Gwyneth Terrell
Funeral Friday 11 a.m. Simon Aycock Cemetery, 1022 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont.
Family will receive friends at the residence Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and following the committal service.
Mrs. Aycock was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A native of Wayne County, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Charles Aycock Sr.; a son, Larry Steven Aycock; her parents, Azzie Belle Barden Aycock and Ralph Gordon Aycock; and brothers, Elton Aycock, Hubert Aycock, Wilton Aycock and Elbert Aycock.
Surviving four sons, R. Charles Aycock Jr. (Mary Ann) of Pikeville, Allen Glenn Aycock (Jan) and Phillip B. Aycock (Nannette) both of Fremont and Roger S. Aycock (Josephine) of Roper; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
Arrangements are by Evergreen Funeral Home of Goldsboro, and condolences may be made through www.evergreenmemorialservice.com.
(Pd)
Aside: The 'rents and I have a standing 9pm Sunday night phone call -- a custom that has dated back to the college days when there was no such thing as e-mail, blogs, FaceBook, or other things with which to keep track of far-flung family. They actually have standing Sunday phone call checks-in with all of their off-spring. Sometimes the schedule works. Sometimes it's a FaceTime or a Skype call. Sometimes the call with with the maternal one. Sometimes the paternal one. Sometimes, woe be unto you for calling during a SportsBall Evening. Sometimes the parental unit is chatty; other times, one gets the impressions that they ... rather not be talking to you at all, and you feel rushed off the phone. Sometimes you are on a speaker-phone conversation and you don't know it. (AWKWARD!) Sometimes it's a tag-team production because nature has called unto the bladder of people on either end of the call. So -- you know... The usual. It's a family thing.
and we were conversing about this, that, and the other thing.
I haven't mentioned it here (yet), but Grandmary and Grumpa Max will be leaving soon for a year-long religious service mission in Washington, D.C. The application, acceptance, and organization of this mission has been a longer more drawn-out process than they anticipated, for reasons that have only been revealed, as we say: "in the fullness of time."
Apparently HE knew things that we could only begin to realize, and it was important that Grumpa, particularly, be around this year for his extended family. Sadly, some grand old broads, my great-aunts on my father's side passed away this year. (I will blog about that soon.) It was important that Grumpa be available to travel to the funerals, which he might not have been if he were in D.C.
Given the age of my maternal great-aunts, and the fact that my parents will be on the East Coast, we have also been worried about my northern-Utah great-aunties. Mom has been doing trips to Logan, Utah a lot this year to check in with them.
But, apparently, we also should have been keeping tabs on the North Carolina relatives.
[But Nettie? How's all this relevant? I'm getting there.]
I asked Grandmary on Sunday, after listening to her rattle off the names all the family and friends that had gathered for their "farewell" ceremonies, if anyone had taken pictures. My brother Jed, wife Kelli, Drew, and the twins were there; my father's sister, my aunt Cora and uncle Kevin were there; some of my father's California cousins had come in; and lots of CT and UT friends were there ...
But no one took pictures.
[UPDATED LATE TODAY because of an email from Grandmary:
I did too!
I did too take pictures in Logan. No pictures on Sunday, but we were all too busy keeping track of Sarah and Cannon.
With four pictures of the aunties from the Logan trip. I stand corrected. Sarah and Cannon are two times the mischief and go tearing off in either direction with chortles of devilish glee.]
It wasn't until the conversation was beginning to wrap up, that Grandmary just happened to mention:
 |
| one of my last photos of Ms. Lucille, as I was getting in the car |
"Oh, and Lucille died."
Turns out -- Ms. Lucille (in the respectful parlance of the South) passed about a month ago, but we just found out. The North Carolina family tree is large and extended and full of many, many branches, and sometimes ... it's hard to stay in touch if you aren't in the immediate family.
With this news, the sense that more time is passing and I'm losing more connections to my grandmother(s). Though, their presences have both been very close this summer. (More on that later).
Immediately, I flashed back to the North Carolina 2010 Roadtrip with Grandmary (most memorable for the e coli I picked up on the last leg), and how I am SO GLAD THAT I TOOK PICTURES.
I have documentation of the last time I saw Ms. Lucille, who was family, and should/could have been considered another one of my honorary aunties.
Grandma Ollie and Ms. Lucille were long-time friends AND family, cousins through the Aycock line, hearty North Carolina farm wives, church companions, quilting circle ladies, and a comfort to each other through long widow-hoods. While I didn't get to spend much time with her, I am so grateful to her for all that she did for Grandma Ollie, especially during Ollie's last years - even when it was hard for Lucille to communicate (she got so deaf, the poor dear), and for her gracious Southern hospitality for the long traditionally Southern slooooooow "rock and talks."
I am particularly glad I TOOK PICTURES of the last time I ever got to visit back in 2010.
Grandmary showing off family pictures to Ms. Lucille
Some of Ms. Lucille's farm
TAKE PICTURES.
LOVE YOUR RELATIVES.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR RELATIVES
TAKE NOTES!
REACH OUT TO YOUR RELATIVES
because ...
YOU NEVER KNOW!
Time flies and life, even after 95 years! ... is too short.
Obits - for genealogical purposes
(Grandma Ollie had scrapbooks of newspaper clippings of obits. I have a blog/book archives.)
Goldsboro Daily News (N.C.), July 23, 2014
Lucille Gordon Aycock
July 23, 95, Fremont
July 23, 95, Fremont
Lucille Gordon Aycock, 95, 1058 Aycock Dairy Road died, Wednesday night at Kitty Askins with her family by her side.
Funeral, Friday 11:00 AM, Simon Aycock Cemetery, 1022 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont.
Family will receive friends at the resident Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and following the committal service.
Mrs. Aycock is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A native of Wayne County and was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Charles Aycock, Sr., a son, Larry Steven Aycock, her parents, Azzie Belle Barden Aycock and Ralph Gordon Aycock, brothers, Elton Aycock, Hubert Aycock, Wilton Aycock and Elbert Aycock, and grandson, Charles William Aycock.
Surviving, four sons; R. Charles Aycock, Jr. (Mary Ann) of Pikeville, Allen Glenn Aycock, Sr. (Jan), Phillip B. Aycock (Nanette) both of Fremont and Roger S. Aycock (Josephine) of Roper. Grandchildren; Connie Johnson (Jimmy), Russell Aycock (Paula), Brad Aycock (Kristi), Melissa Dobbs (Steve), Marie Littleton (Ken), Glenn Aycock, Jr., Julie Johnston (Jay), Suzanne Aycock, Jennie Ledford (Marty), Missie Brady (Chris), Molly Oliver (Chris), Phil Aycock (Veronica), Nancy Corbett (Mark) and Ryan Aycock (Amanda). Great-grandchildren; Hannah Aycock, Heather Johnson, Paige Johnson, Ethan Aycock, Rusty Aycock, Olivia Aycock, Sarah Aycock, Mitch Hurlburt, Stephanie Hurlburt, Megan Littleton, Garrett Littleton, Nathan Littleton, Sara Aycock, Elizabeth Aycock, Hunter Ledford, Fischer Ledford, Christine Oliver, Porter Brady, Katie Brady, Bella Oliver, Jacob Oliver, Wyatt Aycock, Wade Aycock, D. J. Terrell and Gwyneth Terrell
Published in Obituaries on July 24, 2014 1:48 PM
Jan. 13, 1919-July 23, 2014
Lucille Gordon Aycock, 95, 1058 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont, died Wednesday night at Kitty Askins with her family by her side.Funeral Friday 11 a.m. Simon Aycock Cemetery, 1022 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont.
Family will receive friends at the residence Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and following the committal service.
Mrs. Aycock was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A native of Wayne County, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Charles Aycock Sr.; a son, Larry Steven Aycock; her parents, Azzie Belle Barden Aycock and Ralph Gordon Aycock; and brothers, Elton Aycock, Hubert Aycock, Wilton Aycock and Elbert Aycock.
Surviving four sons, R. Charles Aycock Jr. (Mary Ann) of Pikeville, Allen Glenn Aycock (Jan) and Phillip B. Aycock (Nannette) both of Fremont and Roger S. Aycock (Josephine) of Roper; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
Arrangements are by Evergreen Funeral Home of Goldsboro, and condolences may be made through www.evergreenmemorialservice.com.
(Pd)
Monday, September 1, 2014
What a Difference a Year Makes! Labor Day 2013
What a difference a year makes.
Last Labor Day weekend-time-ish, I was fully immersed in the hazy lazy days of Summer NYC muck, but struggling hard to find the beauty. Occassionally I was able to find those little things - like a marigold pushed into a rust hole in a subway platform - or to look up at the mid-town skyline and discover a lantern-top I'd never seen before.
But ... even then, if you had been reading between the lines, you could tell that I was ready to start ...
screaming ...
running for the hills ...
looking ...
for an escape,
a new view,
a different path,
some perspective or clarity.
Something definitely was fishy!
Luckily, an escape to the shore was arranged where in some serious relaxing and some very pertinent conversations were held.
and here we are a year later.
But ... even then, if you had been reading between the lines, you could tell that I was ready to start ...
screaming ...
running for the hills ...
looking ...
for an escape,
a new view,
a different path,
some perspective or clarity.
Something definitely was fishy!
Luckily, an escape to the shore was arranged where in some serious relaxing and some very pertinent conversations were held.
Tales were told. Carbs were inhaled.
Sea plums were admired. Shorefront property was envied.
Sand was felt between our toes.
Sun, surf, sand, salt, secrets, and "somedays"
and
"So, What ifs..."
and here we are a year later.
Thanks Christine.
Thank you just isn't enough.
What a difference a year makes!
Reminder to all:
Just look for the signs -- so you don't have to bang on the ESC key so much.
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